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Ford Explorer Community - Maintenance - Modifications - Performance Upgrades - Problem Solving - Off-Road - Street
Explorer Forum Covers the Explorer ST, Explorer Sport, Explorer Sport Trac, Lincoln Aviator, Mercury Mountaineer, Mazda Navajo, Ford Ranger, Mazda Pickups, and the Ford Aerostar
New member here. Dont want to lift much , want to fit 31's and i here conflicting info. on they fit without lift and you need a lift, what do all of you say? also shocks need replacing, what is best for 70 street 30 dirt/snow. Thanks
New member here. Dont want to lift much , want to fit 31's and i here conflicting info. on they fit without lift and you need a lift, what do all of you say? also shocks need replacing, what is best for 70 street 30 dirt/snow. Thanks
To answer additionally, you "kind of" can run 31's with no lift, unless your springs are sagging. However, if you flex a lot (like disconnect your sways and play around) you can rub if you still have your wheel arch trim.
Ideally 31's you will want shackles and spacers.
Shocks...I can only speak for what I have run on this truck
Motorcraft/whatever came on truck -- hmm ok
Gabriel -- best budget shock (maybe not made anymore?)
Edelbrock IAS -- no good on a 1st gen
Rancho 9000 -- excellent, best shock for 70 street/30 froad.
Bilstein -- very good
Monroe Sensa-Trac -- decent, but nowhere near Rancho 9000 or Bilstein
I can't speak to Explorer Pro-Comp, Skyjacker Hydro/Nitro, or whatever James Duff runs, never ran them
I've got leveling springs for a 2 inch or so lift and my 31x10.5's clear fine. I have a little rub on the RA with stock wheels though.
Leveling springs or spacers on the front and shackles on the rear is a great way to go on the budget. Butven with a Warrior 153 shackle, the front sat high. SOA cured that.
I've got Bilstein and I love them but they are a bit firm for off roading and great for highway. Using stock length ones but have longer ones for use with a lift. Not recommended, but Ive been running like this for a while now and I don't flex or wheel hard at all.
Another option for you OP. After running shackle and spacer, I am about to ditch that because the leafs and coils are 20 years old and showing their age. I'm going to run 2" skyjacker 132X lift coils in front, and a new leaf pack with 2" lift built-in out back. I am looking at the Old Man Emu leaf pack, (OME36 or ARB Suspension CS042R).
That will run 31's no problem with a little extra flex room over shackle and spacer. Plus the OME leaf pack should ride better than the add-a-leaf would.
Coil spacers & warrior shackles. The lift your not really going to feel or notice with 31's The 31's will just fill the wheel wells out. I'm running 245-75-16's with no lift & I'm good.
I'm going to run 2" skyjacker 132X lift coils in front, and a new leaf pack with 2" lift built-in out back
Springs n things I did look into already. I also looked at Detroit spring, and others.
The Old Man Emu / ARB pack is supposed to ride nicer than stock. But, even if that's hot air, equivalent ride to stock is good enough for me.
My pack is 20 years old, the bushings are 20 years old, the AAL is stiff, and I just don't see how the flexy OME pack could ride rougher. I'll talk to an ARB rep about it soon.
